Dispenser apparatus suspended for bottom discharge

ABSTRACT

The combination with a supply container adapted for suspended inverted disposition with its lower end while inverted constituting a content outlet, and a dispenser apparatus disengagably secured to said container lower end and having a tubular casing with an upper inlet end and a lower discharge end. Provided within said casing is a valve plate swingable between upward or casing-closed condition and lower casing-open condition; and with there being a hand operated member located exteriorly of said casing and connected to said valve member for operation thereof.

United States Patent 1191 Witte [4 Dec. 9, 1975 [5 DISPENSER APPARATUS SUSPENDED FOR 2,858,051 10/1958 Cunningham 222/103 BOTTOM DISCHARGE 3,430,815 3/1969 Weimer et a1. 222/181 X Inventor: Henry C. Witte, Memphis, Tenn.

Assignee: International Comador of Memphis,

lnc., Memphis, Tenn.

Filed: Aug. 8, 1974 Appl. No.: 495,548

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 468,346 2/1892 Johnson 222/473 544,689 8/1895 Quaintance 2,650,743 9/1953 Floyd 2,770,398

248/95 X 222/473 X 11/1956 Sauerman 222/181 Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Francis J. Bartuska Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ralph W. Kalish [57] ABSTRACT The combination with a supply container adapted for suspended inverted disposition with its lower end while inverted constituting a content outlet, and a dispenser apparatus disengagably secured to saidcontainer lower end and having a. tubular casing with an upper inlet end and a lower discharge end. Provided within said casing is a valve plate swingable between upward or casing-closed condition and lower casingopen condition; and with there being a hand operated member located exteriorly of said casing and connected to said valve member for operation thereof.

1 Claim, 8 Drawing Figures Sheet 1 of 3 3,924,781

US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 US. Patent De.9,1975 Sheet2of3 3,924,781

FIG. 5

US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,924,781

DISPENSER APPARATUS SUSPENDED FOR BOTTOM DISCHARGE BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to dispensers and, more particularly, to dispensing apparatus for accessorial usage with supply or bulk containers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a dispensing apparatus which is uniquely adapted for adjunctive usage with supply or bulk containers especially of the flexible type, thereby obviating the neces sity of transferring the container contents to a specialized hopper prior to final dispensing. A

It is another object of the present invention to pro vide a dispensing apparatus of the character stated which is easily operated, being adapted for direct connection to a container disposed in an inverted manner so that the contents may be dispensed directly into packaging of preselected dimensions ready for shipment.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a dispensing apparatus of the character stated which is especially suited for use with solid material in comminuted, powdered, or particulate character.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a dispensing apparatus of the type stated which embodies easily operated valve means for reliably con trolling the quantitative dispensing of the particular material and which valve usage may be effectuated by relatively unskilled personnel.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dispensing apparatus of the character above noted which is most economically manufactured; which is comprised of a marked simplicity of parts which are of durable character so as to be resistant to breakdown; which apparatus may be made in a variety of sizes for versatile usage; and which is uniquely constructed for reliable securement to and facile removal from a bulk container; and which is durable in use.-

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing apparatus constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention, illustrating the same in operating condition with respect to a bulk container.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view taken on the line 4-4- of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, taken on theline 55 of FIG. 1, but withthe dispenser casing partially broken away.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 77 of FIGQ6.

FIG. 8 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now by reference numerals to the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention, A generally designates a dispensing apparatus for use in a general accessorial or adjunctive sense with a supply or bulk container C, which is illustrated as of bag form, and being fabricated, as it were, of flexible plastic material conducive to collapsing upon content-emptying. Container C, as of the character shown, is designed primarily to accommodate solid material in comminuted, powdered, or particular form, and of light weight, such as, by way of example only, pellets or discrete units of expanded forms of polystyrene and the like as of the type being currently, widely utilized for suspended packaging of delicate, fragile devices. Obviously, container C could be utilized for any suitable, preferably dry bulk matter. Dispensing apparatus A, made of any suitable material, such as plastic, comprises an openended, generally tubular conduit or casing 1, which may, if desired, be quadrilateral in cross section, having parallel front and rear walls 2,2 and side walls 3,3. At its upper or inlet end, dispenser A is of slightly increased cross-section, as at 4, with the end extremity being slightly outwardly flared, as at 5, while the lower end of said casing l defines a discharge outlet, as at 6. It is understood that the cross-sectional contour is a matter of selectivity.

Within casing l in the lower central portion thereof, there is provided a flat valve plate 7 contoured in substantially complementary relationship to the interior configuration of easing 1 for closure thereof. Said plate 7 is engaged to the lower end, as at 8, of a coil compression spring 9, the opposite or upper end of which, as at 9, is suitably secured to the adjacent side wall 3' of casing 1, thereby urging said plate 7 into casing-closed condition. In its side portion proximate casing wall 3, valve plate 7 is affixed, as by screws 10,10, upon the movable leaf 11 of a hinge 12, the other leaf 13 of which is made rigid against casing wall 3, as by a screw 14.

Thus, valve plate 7 is adapted to swing about the axis of hinge 12 as established by a p intle 15 for movement between upper, case-closed condition, (see full lines in FIG. 5), and lower, or case-open condition (see phantom lines in FIG. 5). It will thus be observed that spring 9 urges valve plate 7 upwardly into case-closed condition, with it being further observed that there is provided an abutment bar 16 mounted on the inner face of casing wall 3' for engaging the proximate free edge of valve plate 7, restricting its upward movement whereby when in casing-closed condition, said valve plate 7 will be canted downwardly at its said free end remote from hinge 12.

Valve plate 7 is secured to one end of a flexible control cable 17, received as within .an elongated hexagonally-shaped, internally threaded member 18 and held therein by a screw 19 for wedging the end of said cable 17 against inadvertent displacement. Cable 17, which may be preferably of metallic character, proceeds through a grommet 20 fixed within aligned openings 21,22 in hinge 12 and casing wall 3, respectively, for projection outwardly beyond casing 1 and extension through a sleeve 23 continuous with a passage 24 formed in the casingadjacent portion of a handoperated lever arm 25, which latter is pivoted on a mounting plate 26 as by a pin 27. Said pivot pin 27 is carried upon spaced-apart upper and lower flanges 28, 28' of a collar 29 embracing the stem 30 of a fixed handle 31; the latter being made rigid with casing 1 by said screw 14.

Thus, by reason of its swingable mounting, lever arm 25 may be moved toward and away from fixed handle 31 for causing valve plate 7 to be open as lever 25 is pulled toward handle 31 with consequent pulling of cable 17 and stressing of spring 9 (see phantom lines in FIG. and, conversely, causing closing of valve plate 7 as lever arm 25 is released when spring 9 returns to normal condition under its own bias (full lines in FIG. 5).

In actual practice, container C will be ultimately presented to dispenser A in inverted or upside-down condition for gravity flow of the contents thereof through casing l. The flared upper end 5 of casing l is designed for reliable securement within the normally upper, readily openable end or throat 32 of container C with the edge portions of the latter gathered about said end 5 and held securely thereagainst as by a resilient retainer 33. Thus, the contents of container C will normally flow downwardly into casing 1 for disposition against the upper face of valve plate 7.

The normally lower end of container C is pierced in its side wall portions adjacent to base seam or edge overlap, as at e, to present a pair of aligned, opposed openings, as at 34,34 for extension therethrough of a rigid support rod 35; the piercing being easily and quickly effected by a sharpened end 36 of said rod 35. Rod 35 is freely engageable within bayonet-like recesses 37,37 formed in the depending arms 38,38, respectively, of a hanger bar 39 having a connecting web 40 which is axially normal to support rod 35. Said support rod 35 adjacent its end remote from sharpened end 36 may carry a pair of spaced-apart collars 41,41 for disposition on opposite sides of arm 38 to permit accidental displacement of rod 35 from supporting relationship with respect to container C.

Substantially centrally, connecting web 40 on its upper surface is provided with an eyelet 42 within which is engaged one end of a lifting cable 43, the other end portion of which is led upwardly for training about a pulley 44, which latter is suitably suspended from an overhead 45; from pulley 44 cable 43 is directed downwardly for securement at a convenient location, as at 46, after container C has been disposed at the desired elevation to maintain same in such position.

In view of the foregoing, it will thus be seen that in actual use container C will be normally received in its customary upright condition, with its upper end 32 presented upwardly and being restingly disposed upon its lower or base portion. When it is desired to dispense the contents of container C, the upper end 32 thereof is opened and the flared end 5 of casing 1 is inserted thereinto with dispenser A being thus momentarily inverted; the edge portions of the wall of container C are tightly engaged about the said outer flared end of casing 1 by resilient or elastic member 33. Thereupon the operator will cause support rod 35 to be extended through the bottom portion of container C with attendant piercing of aligned openings 34,34 as above described. By having played out lifting cable 43 to a desired length, and with the same attached at its normal upper end to eyelet 42 of web 40, rod 35 is accepted at its ends within recesses 37,37 of hanger bar 39. Thereupon the operator will effect a downward pulling upon the free end portion of lifting cable43 which will cause container C with the engaged dispenser A to be both simultaneously elevated, as well as inverted, as into the position shown in FIG. 1. The particular elevation of container C as so inverted will depend entirely upon the relative positionment of receptacles, such as individual shipping cartons, indicated at R, (FIG. 1) for receiving the preselected quantitative emissions from dispenser apparatus A. Thus, by use of the present invention, cartons R may be presented as by means of a conveyor belt B for continuous reception of the distributions from container C and obviously such receptacles may be of any predetermined size.

For bringing about the actual dispensing action, the operator need merely effect a squeezing action upon handle 31 and lever arm 25 so as to open plate 7 for the necessary duration to allow that quantity of material to be dispensed commensurate with the dimensions of the carton R to be filled.

It will thus be seen that by means of the present invention the dispensing operation can be quickly effected by services of relatively unskilled individuals requiring nothing more than a co-ordination between lever operation and conveyor speed.

Immediately upon emptying of container C, dispenser A can be manifestly released for connection to a succeeding loaded supply container C with there being minimum costly time loss.

Thus, the present invention presents a unique means for dispensing in a quick, reliable and economic manner materials which have heretofore required rather cumbersome costly equipment and with it being especially noted that the bulk container serves as an integral element in the overall dispensing unit.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a bulk dispenser having a normally closed bottom portion and an openable content outlet at its normally upper end, means for suspending said container in inverted position whereby its outlet will be disposed at its lower end as suspended, said means comprising a rod extending transversely through said container in its normally closed bottom portion with the ends of said rod extending beyond said container, and hanger means detachably engaging said rod in its projecting end portions, a pulley engaged to said hanger means, means presenting said pulley in elevated relation to said suspended container, a cable connected to said hanger means and extending about said pulley, means provided on said rod for facilitating piercing of rod receptive openings in the said normally closed bottom portion of said container through which openings said rod extends, means for restricting axially slideable displacement of said rod with respect to said container, of a dispensing apparatus having means defining a tubular casing with a normally upper inlet end and a normally lower discharge end, means for connecting said casing upper end to said container content outlet while in suspended condition, the normally upper inlet end of said casing being flared and being received within the outlet end of said suspended container, resilient means engaging the outlet end portion of said container about said flared upper end of said dispensing apparatus, a closure member movably provided within said casing, means pivotally engaging said closure member for movement between upper or casing closed condition and lower casing open condition, and means controlling operation of said closure member. 

1. The combination with a bulk dispenser having a normally closed bottom portion and an openable content outlet at its normally upper end, means for suspending said container in inverted position whereby its outlet will be disposed at its lower end as suspended, said means comprising a rod extending transversely through said container in its normally closed bottom portion with the ends of said rod extending beyond said container, and hanger means detachably engaging said rod in its projecting end portions, a pulley engaged to said hanger means, means presenting said pulley in elevated relation to said suspended continer, a cable connected to said hanger means and extending about said pulley, means provided on said rod for facilitating piercing of rod receptive openings in the said normally closed bottom portion of said container through which openings said rod extends, means for restricting axially slideable displacement of said rod with respect to said container, of a dispensing apparatus having means defining a tubular casing with a normally upper inlet end and a normally lower discharge end, means for connecting said casing upper end to said container content outlet while in suspended condition, the normally upper inlet end of said casing being flared and being received within the outlet end of said suspended container, resilient means engaging the outlet end portion of said container about said flared upper end of said dispensing apparatus, a closure member movably provided within said casing, means pivotally engaging said closure member for movement between upper or casing closed condition and lower casing open condition, and means controlling operation of said closure member. 